AASL+info+to+share

Hi all.........

Most of the sessions I attended focused on Web 2.0 tools and students creating knowledge on their own. Here are the links to the wikis or online materials - they are pretty self explanatory - there was also alot of discussion on how book formats are now changing to incorporate the web experience for kids. Books with text on the center of the page and then notations, illustrations and side stories along the borders. The point being that these kids are visually and graphically geared and any of these tech tools can help students create and that is where learning really takes place.

Joyce Valenza's session on web 2.o smackdown : http://aaslsmackdown.wikispaces.com/ Annette Lamb's session Get Graphic! Visuals for Deep Thinking, Inquiry, and Learning [] Annette Lamb's session Graphic Novels, Photo Essays & Illuminated Term Papers: Communicating Deep Understandings [] Pam Berger's session on best interactive sites by the aasl committee linked to standards for the 21st c learner [] and the Landmark best 25 for best overall teaching and learning websites even though they are not interactive. Other Annette Lamb presentations [] I did ask the committee to consider putting together professional best 25 for us with links to annette lamb's eduscapes, joyce valenza's site, pam bergers infosearcher site, etc.......particularly for those coming into library. She said they would definately look into it.

I am trying to access more materials, but the website they set up isn't very friendly and is locked down - how silly since librarians share everything ! So I will post more as they get more uploads from presenters. This is my 4th aasl conference and I would highly recommend attending if you can get away to do so. The opportunity to talk with other librarians from all over the country and hang out with our teachers/authors is fabulous ! Librarians are fun regardless of any stereotypes they might link with us !! Karen :) **Some examples of ideas:**
 * Glogster is a poster generating software. Have students promote a book, job, state, via visual images and discuss why a picture is worth a thousand words and why they included what they did.
 * Use makebeliefscomix.com or printon.com to generate a comic strip to generate a story and dialogue or make a how to for math facts. Great for foreign language students to create in a new language. Ie create a comic strip about ordering dinner or how to find the train station.
 * Use grapher.com to make graphs using student votes on topics
 * Engage students with primary source photographs (LOC.gov, Smithsonian, national archives) before introducing a topic with questions like – what do you see? What is not there? What do you think they are thinking? What questions do you have? How do we find out?
 * Compare graphic novels to their regular counterparts and discuss what text was replace by pictures. Let them make their own graphic novels on comic life
 * Take them to swivel.com for statistics – pick a surprising one and have students check out the source which is listed. Would they trust this source? Why or Why not. Where can they find more information on the topic. Have them discuss why they think the statistic is as it is.
 * Have students write a book summary but give the booktalk orally to the class – throw each of their written pieces into a worldle at wordle.net and see if kids can guess which book it is via the word cloud that is generated. If not, what is missing or what would have been great terms to include to make it more obvious?
 * Skype and author – free video conference and authors will visit and talk to your class for 15 minutes. OR Go to an author’s website and see what inspired them, how they draw their characters, where the story came from. Ask students what inspires them and have them write about it and generate a story.
 * Pick a local issue and have students write a where to go information pieces via comicx. Ie who do you tell when a sign is defaced? Where do you go for a driver’s license? If you have trash larger than the trash barrel what do you do? Let them find local resources and create a local resource manual.
 * Let them choose one digital photo and then they need to crop it into 4 pieces and create a story with all the pieces.
 * Discuss a topic like simple machines and give student groups a camera – let them take digital pictures of all the simple machines they can find in the room or the school- they can make a digital poster and explain their functionality
 * Go to the Cornell lab of orthnology (?) and print off pictures of birds in various stages in their nests. The little ones can sequence those photos, the big ones discuss and make life cycle pictures.
 * The national archives has website for historical figures like the life of Lincoln with photos/drawings of what he looked like as a child and info about his life.
 * Let students put together a presentation using prezi.com which is a moving power point type software.
 * Use a wiki in your classroom as a collaborative tool that all students contribute to. Sign up at wikispaces.com – let them know you are an educator and the ads are removed for free. Super easy and gives you a web presence that students can comment on, add to, use as a resource.
 * Pick a topic and let students explore online to contribute websites that may be interesting or useful in exploring that topic. Have them evaluate the resources they choose and post them on the wiki. Most conferences now have a wiki for attendees to go to and get handouts – updated information on sessions – access blogs and get attendees to add to the resource sections. Many heads are always better than just one.
 * The idea behind most of these is concept mastery and doesn’t need to have three paragraphs to demonstrate, but students enjoy using graphic type technologies to visually represent their understanding of a subject. If you still want to add the writing piece, do many of the above in power point and use the notes section for students to include the writing piece.
 * If you are doing current events, go to USA today and select snapshots – great discussions points.
 * If you are doing current events, go to USA today and select snapshots – great discussions points.

i will add more as i summarize my notes !!